Pilot Debrief

Schulman Mosquito XEL near Halifax, MA — 2010-09-19

Final reportERA10LA488
Sign in to save
Date
2010-09-19
Location
Halifax, MA, USA
Aircraft
Schulman Mosquito XEL
Registration
UNREG
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control while hovering. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s limited experience operating the helicopter make and model.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s limited experience operating the helicopter make and model.

NTSB narrative

The ultralight helicopter was observed flying low over a lake and then hovering over a swamp area with trees. When the helicopter was hovering just above the trees, the tail section yawed left and right, followed by the main rotor blades tipping left and right. The helicopter then entered a spin and nosed over and impacted the trees. A postaccident examination did not reveal any evidence of failures of the helicopter or its components that would have prevented normal operations prior to impact. The pilot purchased the helicopter as a kit and constructed it at the manufacturer's facility with their assistance. Before it was completely built, the pilot departed the facility with the helicopter and declined to receive 10 hours of flight instruction offered by the kit manufacturer. The pilot had his Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate revoked 3 years prior to the accident and did not hold a helicopter rating. However, the pilot may have had experience in another type of helicopter and may have accumulated about 12 hours of flight time in the accident helicopter prior to the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot declined training despite lack of helicopter rating and experience.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 15 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents15

Related mishaps